The Voice Of One Crying Out In Suburbia

Toledo Reformed Theological Conference

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Don Kistler
1 Corinthians 1:26-2:5

Throughout Paul’s ministry to reminds us that the Gospel is what is important, the power is in the message, not the messenger.
Paul told Timothy the method and the message were fixed. The method is to preach, the message is the Word.
His calling was to preach, to declare the whole counsel of God. My job is to make my people prepared so that when they go out, they might fight their own battles.
Paul never sought to be balanced, he was pretty one tracked. Not big into signs, not really wise, just Christ crucified.
He didn’t want to know anything put Christ crucified.
Where are the pulpits where Christ crucified is the central theme (try Pellston, MI)
The Old Testament leads up to Christ, the New Testament ordinances are celebrations of Him.
The first thing people want to do when they get saved is study eschatology, and they don’t even understand Christology!
The Bible is not a self-help book primarily. There is much that is helpful, but it is primarily about Christ.
We cannot know God without knowing Christ.
If we take the time to slow down and look at the Bible, it will boggle the mind.
What does knowing Christ make us to be?
It makes us crucified to the world
Knowing Him as High Priest
It brings us humility

To know this requires knowing Christ as the second person of the Trinity, the Virgin Birth, the work of Christ as a mediator, justification by faith alone, etc.
The person and work of Christ, that should be the focus of our ministry

What Christians around the country are woefully ignorant of: What is God like, and who is Christ and what has He done

What is wrong with being an educated, wise appearing preacher? People are sheep and we have as big a rock star mentality as the rest of the world. If one man can convince you by his gifts of his argument, then someone else can come around who is more persuasive can convince them of something just the opposite.

How ironic that the Living Gospel is the testimony of a dead Redeemer.

When we become passionate about Christ, we will become dispassionate about other things.